Portcullis - Who Are We?

Portcullis is a leading UK provider of Information Security Services with a pedigree that reflects our heritage as one of the longest serving companies in the IT security marketplace.

We are one of the very few companies in our sector that can proudly boast of our true independence as a privately owned and funded enterprise. Consequently, our clients can trust our integrity for unbiased advice.

Our expertise has developed over three decades devoted to providing IT Security Services without diluting our efforts into IT generally.

We have invested in the right people with the highest skills to ensure that our deliverables are the best and supported by excellent customer service.

With Portcullis you have a true sense of security.

Portcullis' Past

The Portcullis brand was launched in 1986; subsequently Portcullis Computer Security Limited (CSL) was founded in 1992 by three pioneers of the IT Security Industry who had already been working in the sector for some time.

The founders of the company are still the Directors of the company today. From those early days of purveying solutions, including Anti-Virus software, Data Encryption products, Identification and Authentication products, Remote PSTN Secure Dial-In products and Consultancy Services, Portcullis CSL grew with the industry but unlike so many others we remained dedicated to the Security Sector and avoided diversifying into other lucrative areas within IT.

Constantly aware of the importance of where the market focus was heading, Portcullis was at the front, trail blazing a way forward, setting the agenda and identifying market trends.

Our range of workstation Identification and Authentication products have pioneered technology, available with bespoke audit facilities. Proactively identifying a need for laptop and desktop security, these client led solutions have undergone constant development through several versions over the last three decades

The research and development arm of the company has seen a number of products go through their laboratories from Alpha and Beta releases to final versions that are still market leaders today.

Along side product development Portcullis was also an early provider of Security Testing Services, complementing our activities in consultancy.

The accumulated knowledge of our Technical Department naturally led to the development of further products designed to answer specific client's needs in areas such as Data Erasure, Encryption, Malware Detection and Prevention.

Portcullis has been associated with HMG's Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG) for nearly 20 years and was the first company to be accepted into all three CESG Industry Partnership Schemes.

Throughout the 90's the Security Testing Services sector of the business grew as individual clients requested specific jobs to address particular problems. From such client led beginnings our Security Testing Team has grown into one of the largest in the UK.

Portcullis' Present

Today Portcullis has placed itself strategically in the forefront of IT Security Services. This divides fundamentally into two areas: Security Testing and Computer Forensic Services.

As the main thrust of our business is now services based the quality of the people who make up our organisation has never been more critical. We have worked hard to build up a team which we are rightly proud of. Individuals whose talents, dedication and unique skills embody the Portcullis ethos. Investing in the right people is the key to success.

The skills of our programmers and testing engineers put them amongst the finest minds in the industry. Covering a whole range of services including the testing of networks from both an Internal and External perspective, Application Testing, Auditing, Bespoke Testing, Code Reviews, Open Source Research and Secure Architectural Design. Our forensic scientists offer clients the use of detailed analysis and reporting processes which encompass all computer and related digital matter.We continue to strengthen our client relationships by listening to their needs in order to solve their problems.

As an accredited government IT health check ("CHECK") service provider, Portcullis supports a dedicated team of security cleared engineers and consultants whose technical expertise has enabled them to achieve the status of "CHECK" Team Members and Team Leaders. Portcullis, as a founder member of the Council for Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) employs many testers who can boast the CREST qualification. We are also UK members of the Forum for Incident Response Security Teams or FIRST.

Our Independence is recognised and trusted by the marketplace. Portcullis is not a wholly owned subsidiary of some global parent company, nor are we at the mercy of venture capitalists or shareholders. Portcullis has always been and proudly remains a privately owned British Company, which is purely growth funded. A position that few other IT Security Companies can boast.

Over three decades we have earned an exemplary reputation understanding our clients' needs, producing what they ask for on time and backing up our deliverables with a commitment to excellent customer service.

Portcullis' Future

Portcullis' positive future is clearly mapped out in our aggressive five year plan. The growth and expansion projected is to be financed purely through our own operating profits.

Having already taken on another office last in order to accommodate the growing number of security testers, programmers and technical engineers. As we widen our skill sets further we opened a City office by St Paul's in 2007 and then in 2008 we established our forensic laboratory in Cheltenham.

We are currently engaged in a number of feasibility studies, which are client led, to develop solutions that answer specific needs. It is hoped that these will have a wider application in the market place.

The Portcullis seminars are now well established and have proved both popular and useful with our clients. We will further the development of these "not for profit" events built around information and education.

Portcullis has been for some time a very attractive acquisition target however we remain committed to maintaining our true independence. This is something that we know our client's value as a rare quality within the industry and their opinions are of paramount importance. We recognise our clients provide the lifeblood for our business.